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As I noted in an earlier article (Canned Insects and Other Invertebrates, July 1, 2008), several companies are now marketing canned grasshoppers, snails, silkworms and other invertebrates. I believe these to be an important means of providing dietary variety to a wide range of captive reptiles and amphibians. I have […]
[…]snails, supplemented with live ones, as a basis of the diet. I have also written about the use of canned insects in bird diets – please see my article, Feeding Insects to Pet Birds. I have tried most of the following, and recommend you to experiment as much as possible: […]
[…]a moderate position as regarded the savannah monitors under my care in public collections, using canned food as 60-75% of the diet. I supplemented the food of adults once weekly with vitamin/mineral powder and that of juveniles 3-4 times weekly. Invertebrate and Vertebrate Food Items The easiest way to supplement […]
[…]cases hundreds, of prey species, and rarely fare well on a captive diet consisting of 2-3 types of insects. Canned invertebrates are convenient…some people even rely on them in place of readily available insects such as crickets and mealworms. However, their true value lies in providing us an opportunity to add […]
[…]the food with jelly forces the turtle to consume everything. Canned Snails and Insects Canned insects and invertebrates offer an excellent means of increasing dietary variety while adding to the attractiveness of commercial turtle foods. We’ll take a look at using canned and live invertebrates, as well as the importance of […]
[…]mouse is usually a great hit with box turtles, but is not a necessity. Canned Snails and Insects Canned insects and invertebrates offer an excellent means of increasing dietary variety while adding to the attractiveness of commercial turtle foods. Box turtles avidly consume snails and slugs in the wild…canned snails are […]
[…]sliders will readily consume Repto-min, earthworms, crickets, mealworms, prawn and canned insects, and will do their best to catch small fishes and tadpoles. They usually will coexist quite well with larger goldfish and sunfish, if there is ample room for the fish to avoid the turtles. Adults may consume some […]
[…]to come by in sufficient quantities, and rodents, as we shall see, are often a poor substitute. Canned insects, especially large grasshoppers, offer a convenient and healthful alternative. Surprising Research on Natural Diets Many carnivorous reptiles and amphibians prey almost entirely upon invertebrates in the wild, despite being rather large […]
[…]have higher nutritional requirements…their diets should be supplemented 3-4 times weekly. Canned Insects Leopard Geckos are usually enthusiastic feeders, and take readily to tong or even hand feeding. Canned Grasshoppers and Silkworms should be used to increase dietary variety. Canned insects can also be rolled in Zoo Med’s Dried Flies […]
[…]beetle (Alaus oculatus) pictured below in my haul (this fellow was released). Insect Traps and Canned Insects The Zoo Med Bug Napper is another very useful insect-collecting tool. An alternative means of introducing variety to your pets’ diets is through the use of canned invertebrates. Further Reading An amusing story […]
[…]excellent trap) should be given regularly. Most green treefrogs feed readily from plastic tongs….canned silkworms are an excellent addition to the diet. These frogs are persistently arboreal, so burrowing insects such as small butterworms and waxworms should be placed in cups suspended from tree branches, or hand-fed. Green treefrogs are […]
[…]every night or so will go a long way in keeping your pet in the peak of health. The Importance of Canned Insects African bullfrogs can be easily trained to accept non-living food items from a plastic feeding tongs (well, to be honest, no actual “training” is involved…they generally just […]
[…]last two now available via internet dealers). Canned Insects Veiled chameleons also readily accept canned insects from plastic feeding tongs. Grasshoppers, silkworms and others should be used frequently to increase dietary variety. Wild-Caught Insects All chameleons become “nutritionally bored” over time, and most eventually refuse once-favored foods that are offered […]
[…]so I rely heavily upon these, especially during the winter when other foods are scarce. I also use canned silkworms, live earthworms (50% of the diet), blackworms, crickets, mealworm beetles, waxworms, sow bugs and wild-caught insects (i.e. moths gathered with the aid of a Zoo Med Bug Napper). Further […]
[…]be roaches, crickets, waxworms, super mealworms, mealworm beetles and wild-caught insects. Canned insects, such as silkworms and grasshoppers, offer an excellent source of dietary variety. Many individuals also accept canned monitor diets. Breeding Captive breeding is possible, but pairs must be watched closely for aggression. The 2-5 eggs hatch in […]
[…]a wide variety of foods – pink (new-born) mice, crickets, earthworms, mealworms, waxworms, eggs, canned lizard diet and canned dog and cat food – to name a few. Cone-shaped teeth assist in crushing snails, a favored prey. After eating snails, sheltopusiks remove the snails’ slime from their jaws by rubbing […]
[…]toads and on amphibian care in general. Please check out the following when you have a chance: Canned Insects and other Invertebrates – An Important New Food for Pet Reptiles and Amphibians Making the Most of the Mealworm: some tips on enhancing the nutritional value of this pet trade staple […]
[…]this regard. Small silkworms and house flies should be ordered from insect suppliers periodically. Canned Insects In order to increase dietary variety, anoles should be acclimated to tong feeding and offered canned grasshoppers, silkworms and other commercially-available insects. Nectar and Water Wild anoles of various species have been observed lapping […]
[…]or collecting them, and usually try to keep a colony going in my basement as well. Traps and Canned Insects The Zoo Med Bug Napper simplifies the collecting of moths and other flying insects; please see the articles mentioned in Part I for information on other collecting techniques. Canned Insects […]
[…]in my basement as well. A Zoo Med Bug Napper simplifies the collecting of moths and other flying insects. Canned Insect are readily accepted from feeding tongs, and are an important means of providing dietary variety when wild-caught insects are not available. In winter, I powder most meals with supplements, […]
[…]of whole, fresh-water fish, whole, unshelled prawn, crayfish, roaches, crickets, earthworms, and canned insects/monitor diets . Pink mice are preferable to furred rodents, and should be offered only once each week or two. This species seems to have a quite high metabolism, and does best when fed small meals every […]
[…]with variety being a key point. Animal-based protein can be provided by canned Tegu-Monitor Diet, canned insects or, if you prefer, live crickets, roaches, super mealworms, butter worms and wild-caught invertebrates. Many folks use canned cat food or monkey chow as a protein source, but I prefer products formulated for […]
[…]substrate, avoid feeding blackworms and offer earthworms from a plastic feeding tong. Introducing Canned Shrimp and Snails Well-habituated Surinam toads will consume prawn and other non-living food items that are dropped so as to land directly in front of their mouths. Start your frog off with live food, but after […]
[…]managed. If your pets will accept dead or tong-fed food items, you might wish to consider using Canned Invertebrates, which are farm-raised and cooked. Further Reading Please see my article Wild Caught Insects: Pesticide Concerns for important information on collecting food for your […]
[…]below for links to each. Further Reading Reptile Lighting: Combo Hoods and Strips Canned […]
[…]the fall; certainly turtles in my collection relish these (please see article below). Low fat canned dog food (preferable to higher-fat cat foods) can also be tried. Recently I’ve replaced this with pelleted and canned Box Turtle Diets, and have always added moistened Reptomin Food Sticks to most meals. Adult […]
[…]Reading To learn more about using freshwater shrimps, please see my article Zoo Med Canned Freshwater Shrimp. Krill image referenced from Wikipedia and originally posted by Saperaud Blandings Turtle image referenced from Wikipedia and originally posted by Raphael […]
[…]natural history information may be found in this article. Learn more about collecting insects here: Collecting Insects Smooth Green Snake image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by atrahamrepol and […]
[…]readily accept ½ inch crickets, small waxworms, newly molted mealworms, wild-caught insects and canned silkworms. Maternal Care of the Young Female emperor scorpions feed their young with finely-shredded insects – this really is something to see. By all means, try to do so by viewing yours at night with the […]
[…]D3, ReptiCalcium and Reptocal. I do not use supplements when feeding wild-caught invertebrates. Canned Insects Canned Insects such as grasshoppers, snails and silkworms are accepted from feeding tongs by many chameleons, and can be an important means of providing dietary variety when wild-caught insects are not available. Mice as a Calcium […]
[…]pitfall traps, termite traps, leaf litter collection and sweeping through tall grass with a net. Canned Insects For those individuals that will feed from tongs or accept non-living foods, canned invertebrates, such as grasshoppers, snails and silkworms, provide a convenient means of varying the diet. Commercially-Available Invertebrates When wild-caught insects […]
[…]the larvae of midges (or “gnats”, Family Chironomidae), are one of the few small insects available to tadpole keepers. TetraFauna’s Repto Treat supplies bloodworms encased within a vitamin-enriched gel. Bloodworms and other aquatic insects form the basis of the food chain in many tadpole habitats, and are almost certainly an […]
[…]a look at another very useful food item for aquatic animals, please see my article Zoo Med’s Canned Shrimp […]
[…]in each situation, to assure that the behavior it exhibited was typical. Shy, Bold and Aggressive Insects Individual insects varied from one another in their reactions, and the traits they exhibited were consistent over a wide range of situations. For example, if a certain individual explored new objects immediately and […]
[…]way to control Phorid Flies and other vermin is to quickly remove all fecal material, dead feeder insects, and meat-based food remains. This is, of course, essential in maintaining the health of your collection as well. Humidity and Moisture Phorid Flies are rarely a problem around desert-dwelling pets, as they […]
[…]cycles and full range of behaviors in a relatively limited space and time span. Those who keep insects are offered the real possibility of discovering new information. Conservation Value Much of what has been learned by those keeping insects in private and public collections has conservation value. Captive breeding and […]
[…]feed “fuzzy” or larger mice to Leopard Geckos, as the fur may cause intestinal impactions. Canned Insects Leopard Geckos usually take readily to tong-feeding. Canned Grasshoppers and Silkworms offer a convenient means of adding variety to your lizard’s diet. Wild Caught Insects As my regular readers are, no […]
[…]enough saliva. The tongue is not, as the disorder’s name implies, shortened, but rather insects simply do not stick to the tongue when grabbed. Other symptoms, such as swellings in the lower eyelid, have been reported in Leopard and various Poison Frogs. Powdered supplements containing low levels of Vitamin A, […]
[…]terrariums…frogs, day geckos and others will enjoy poking through them in search of tasty insects. Fruit Trees and Bushes Apple and Crab Apple Figs Apricots Pears Peaches Most berries, including natives such as elderberry and juniper Flowers Dogwood Magnolia Dandelion Gardenia Nasturtium Petunia Petunia Begonia Bougainvillea Seeds, Grains and Grasses […]
[…]insect trap). Emperor scorpions take readily to tong feeding , and should be provided with canned grasshoppers and silkworms as a means of increasing dietary variety. We know nothing of their vitamin/mineral needs…I powder my scorpions’ food once weekly with a reptile dietary supplement as “insurance”. Emperor scorpions may on […]
[…]mites and an unimaginable diversity of other invertebrates. Estimated at 30 million species, insects are the largest invertebrate group. To put their numbers in context, consider this – the weight of insects in most African rainforests exceeds that of all resident vertebrates combined! This statement takes into account such huge […]
[…]feed avidly from the hand. This allows me to more easily provide a varied diet, as they will take canned insects such as caterpillars and grasshoppers. From spring through fall, I feed the frogs exclusively upon insects that I trap with a Zoo Med Bug Napper or collect around my […]
[…]smaller animals. Adult Field Crickets have very strong jaws and should be used with caution. Canned Grasshoppers Canned grasshoppers are an excellent alternative to live insects for certain pets. Exoterra’s Grasshoppers are large and fully winged; Zoo Med’s Grasshoppers are wingless and a bit smaller. Grasshoppers as Pets I’ve had […]
[…]need comparatively more protein than do adults. A wide variety of insects should be offered…canned insects mixed into a dish with pellets may encourage them to try the new food. Adults include a good deal of plant material in their diet, and seem to take readily to the fruity taste […]
[…]ago”. Yes, it is true – despite our technological advances, life would grind to a halt were insects to disappear. The reasons for this are staggering in both their simplicity and complexity. Today I’d like to highlight few fun facts that have surprised me – for example, can you […]
[…]which to feed my collection. Happily, these two activities are intertwined – plants attract insects, and insects pollinate plants. Garden-grown plants provide minerals and trace elements that are often difficult to supply otherwise, and their fiber content is usually quite high. Your pets’ enthusiastic attacks on novel foods will leave […]
[…]mouse’s sharp teeth. Marine Toads take readily to tong or even hand feeding (use plastic tongs). Canned insects, such as Can O’ Grasshoppers and Can O’ Pillars should be hand-fed to increase dietary variety. Wild caught insects, collected from pesticide-free areas, should be offered whenever possible. Zoo Med’s Bug Napper […]
[…]fish, mealworms and their pupae, waxworms, butterworms, crickets, crayfish and small snails. Canned grasshoppers, snails, shrimp and caterpillars are now available, and, along with freeze dried prawn, should be used to increase dietary variety. Be sure to include plant material (see below) in the diet of growing sidenecks…animals refusing to […]
[…]pink mice, super mealworms, roaches, sow bugs, waxworms, grasshoppers, grubs, crickets and canned invertebrates. Canned or pelleted box turtle diets and/or moistened Reptomin Food Sticks should be mixed into most meals. Approximately 50% of the diet for adult Wood Turtles should be as described above. The balance should be comprised […]
[…]for information concerning possible pesticides and parasites. Further Reading Collecting Insects for Reptile Food: Pesticide Concerns Wild Caught Insects as Herp Food: Dangerous Species […]
[…]information on breeding. Scorpions Need Live Food While many captives learn to take canned insects from tongs (do not hand-feed!), live insects will form the vast majority of your scorpion’s diet. Many have been raised on crickets alone, but the best long term results will be achieved by providing […]
[…]kit. You can read more about these useful turtle-feeders in this article. Further Reading Canned Insects and Snails Collecting Insects for Captive […]
[…]that I and co-workers have had, with a variety of herps and birds, to the use of wild-caught insects. The Bug Napper Insect Trap will simplify insect collection. Canned silkworms and grasshoppers offered via feeding tong, are an ideal means of introducing variety to the diet. Nectar Mix Free-living Day […]
[…]pierce human skin (this re Brown Water Scorpions; others not mentioned). I’m wary of aquatic insects, however, as even the smallest predatory species can usually inflict a painful bite. After so many decades of being bitten and stung by creatures large and small, I have no desire to experiment! I […]
I apologize for the awkward title, but try as I might this was the best I could do! Today I’d like to propose a new use for the Penn Plax Turtle Pier, a wonderful product that was originally designed as a resting/basking area for turtles, newts and frogs. Problematical Habitats […]
[…]It is always ready to clamber up on one’s arm for a snack, and can easily be trained to accept canned insects. Although a stout build and 4-5 inch length renders it among the largest of all treefrogs, this Australian native does well in relatively small quarters. Pet White’s Treefrogs […]
[…]a 2 week period, and feed them heavily for 3-4 weeks. Novel prey animals, such as wild-caught or canned insects, should be offered at this time. Thereafter, move the frogs into an aquarium filled with 4 inches water and provisioned with live floating plants (i.e. water hyacinth, water lettuce, pothos) […]
[…]and vitamin supplements are important, especially for growing youngsters. Many will accept canned insects from feeding tongs. Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum This large, boldly-marked salamander spends most of its life below-ground in woodlands, but is often seen when migrating to breeding ponds in early spring. A 10 gallon aquarium stocked […]
[…]is not for everyone. Tarantulas Need Live Food While many captives learn to take canned insects and pre-killed pink mice from tongs (do not hand-feed!), live insects will form the vast majority of your tarantula’s diet. Cricket-only diets seem to work well for many species, but the best long […]
[…]and other invertebrates will all be eagerly accepted. You can also try tong-feeding them canned invertebrates (one look at their other-worldly jaws will convince you of the wisdom of using feeding tongs)! Folks working with Windscorpions have a real opportunity to contribute to what little we know about these most […]
[…]pink mice, super mealworms, roaches, sow bugs, waxworms, grasshoppers, grubs, crickets and canned invertebrates marketed for pet reptiles. Low fat dog food, canned box turtle diets or moistened Reptomin Food Sticks should be mixed into most meals. Try some of the foods mentioned below as well. Plant Foods Approximately 50% […]
[…]color (black body, red head) and move about in a rapid, frantic manner as do the ants (adult stick insects are slow moving). They also curl their abdomens up over the body, in the manner of their ant hosts. Upon leaving the ant nest the stick insects moult, assume the […]
[…]variety of reptile products, including terrariums, caves, various substrates, ceramic heaters and canned insects may be put to good use by the tarantula keeper. Please see this article for information on useful tarantula supplies, as well as those linked below, and be sure to post any questions you may have. […]
[…]large tadpoles may take up to 2 years to mature. The tadpoles will eat whatever algae and dead insects they may find. However, they require a good deal of food for proper development, and should be given supplementary green vegetables that have be soaked for a few minutes in hot […]
[…]reptile and amphibian diets. However, shy and nocturnal species that do not eat soon after the insects are released into their terrariums may get little benefit from powdered supplements. Insects quickly lose their coatings as they move about…crickets and roaches add to the problem by grooming the supplements from their […]
[…]all. Please see these articles for tips on collecting insects. Useful commercially-available insects include roaches, crickets, butterworms, super mealworms, caliworms, silkworms, hornworms and locusts. Feeders should be provided a healthful diet before use. Canned grasshoppers, snails, and silkworms may be offered via feeding tongs. Please see this article for further […]
[…]thrive on a diet comprised of crickets, mealworms and earthworms. I’ve also offer wild-caught insects, roaches, waxworms, and other invertebrates as well, and believe this is key to the long-term health and breeding success of some species. Canned grasshoppers and silkworms moved about with a long-handled forceps are an […]
[…]on a diet comprised of crickets, mealworms and earthworms. I’ve always offered wild-caught insects, roaches, waxworms, and other invertebrates as well, and believe this is key to the long term health and breeding success of some if not all species. Canned grasshoppers and other invertebrates moved about with a long-handled […]
[…]Pets should be offered a diet comprised of whole animals such as earthworms, crickets and other insects, prawn, canned snails, minnows, an occasional pre-killed pink mouse and a variety of fruits (many refuse fruit, and seem to do fine without). Goldfish should be used sparingly, if at all, as a […]
[…]out when you have a moment – you may discover a new hobby in the process! Commercially-Reared Insects You should allow insects purchased as frog food to feed upon a healthy diet for several days, in order to increase their nutritional value (this process is often termed “gut loading”). Please […]
[…]bugs, waxworms, butterworms, silkworms, houseflies and other invertebrates should be provided. Insects should themselves be fed a nutritious diet for 1-3 days before being offered to your pets. Many will accept canned grasshoppers, snails, and silkworms from tongs. Please ignore the You Tube videos of Marine Toads consuming mice. […]
[…]far more enthusiastically than are crickets!. Please see these articles for tips on collecting insects. Useful invertebrates that you can buy include earthworms, roaches, butterworms, calciworms, silkworms, hornworms and sow bugs. Feeders should be provided a healthful diet before use. Canned grasshoppers, snails, and silkworms may be offered via […]
[…]out-compete them for dry foods (as will many other tropical fishes). I’ve recently begun using Canned Freshwater Shrimp as well. Both are difficult to obtain in live form, and provide important dietary variety. Newt Companions Armored Catfishes (Corydoras spp.) of most species and Weather Loaches do well in unheated aquariums […]
[…]days before being offered to your pets. In order to increase dietary variety, offer your lizards canned grasshoppers, snails and silkworms via tongs. Wild-caught insects, as long as you can recognize dangerous species and avoid pesticide-contaminated areas, should also be offered; moths, beetles, grasshoppers and many others will be readily […]
[…]alone. Feeding Centipedes will thrive on a diet of crickets, roaches and earthworms. Wild-caught insects may be offered to help balance the diet. They will also accept canned grasshoppers and snails via tongs, but be extremely careful when feeding in this manner. Mice are not required, even for the largest […]
[…]Fuzzies and sub-adult mice should not be used, as hair impactions may result. Collecting Insects for Your Gecko Wild caught insects, collected from pesticide-free areas, should be offered whenever possible. Zoo Med’s Bug Napper is an excellent insect trap. Sweeping a net through tall grass and searching around outdoor lights […]
[…]and a variety of other invertebrates should be offered. Please see these articles on collecting insects for more ideas. When wild-caught insects are not available, the diet should be comprised of commercially-available roaches, crickets, locusts, butterworms, super mealworms, house flies, waxworms, calciworms, silkworms and hornworms. Feeder insects should be provided […]
[…]waxworms, caliworms and commercially-available caterpillars (silkworms, hornworms). Feeder insects should be provided a healthful diet for several days before use. Canned grasshoppers, snails and silkworms are often accepted from feeding tongs, and can be an important means of providing dietary variety. Parson’s, Panther, Oustalet’s and other large species seem to […]
[…]Invertebrates Your reptile garden will, in addition, attract numerous terrestrial insects. All are interesting to observe and many can be collected to feed to your collection (a Bug Napper Insect Trap situated near a garden will provide a great nightly haul). Flowering gardens are also important as feeding sites for […]
[…]roaches, crickets, butterworms, super mealworms, waxworms, cultured houseflies, and silkworms. Canned invertebrates may be accepted from feeding tongs. Tokay Geckos can be offered a pink mouse every 7-10 days. Do not use adult mice, as the fur may lead to impactions. Although they will pounce on whatever small creature comes […]
[…]article). Other important food items that should be a regular part of the diet include earthworms, canned snails and fresh or freeze-dried shrimp and krill. Crickets, mealworms, waxworms and other insects may be offered on occasion. Although best known to most folks as pets, Sliders also have a fascinating natural […]
[…]write in for details) roaches, waxworms, crickets, butterworms, silkworms, super mealworms and canned invertebrates (grasshoppers, snails, silkworms) should all be provided. Wild Water Dragons add plants to their diet as they mature, but captives often reject non-living foods. Adding live insects to a bowl of kale, dandelion, apples, peaches and […]
[…]discovering a new species in the process. If allowed access to the bait, as described above, the insects will perish. If you wish to collect living insects, install a cloth or fine screen barrier above the bait. I’ve painted molasses on tree trunks, and was usually rewarded with an array […]
[…]those under my care in zoos. Freeze-dried shrimp (included in Reptomin Select-a-Food) “gelled insects”, canned snails and frozen fish foods (i.e. mosquito larvae) should be offered regularly. Live food, while not essential, is relished and will help ensure a balanced diet. Blackworms, bloodworms, earthworms, guppies, and small crickets will be […]
[…]should be offered a diet comprised of whole animals such as earthworms, snails, crickets and other insects, crayfish, prawn, minnows, an occasional pre-killed pink mouse and a variety of fruits, greens and vegetables. Canned invertebrates, especially snails, can be used to increase dietary variety. A high quality commercial turtle chow […]
[…]zoo and my own collections. In the past I have written about collecting leaf litter and arboreal insects, as well as devices such as termite traps and the Zoo Med Bug Napper. Please see the following articles for more information: Collecting Leaf Litter Invertebrates Collecting Live Food: an Entomologist’s Technique […]
[…]variety of leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables. A small weekly meal of moist cat food, along with canned http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet-supplies-search#!Reptile-Supplies/reptile-food&ea_c=feeder-insects or live snails, earthworms and super mealworms, will satisfy their protein requirements. Vitamin, Minerals and Water The calcium requirements of all tortoises appear to be quite high. Food should be powdered with […]
[…]to associate the container with food, and will gather about it, watching the holes for escaping insects. On non-feeding days, you may still notice that the frogs will pause occasionally to peer at the feeder, apparently in anticipation of a meal. Establishing a colony of springtails (tiny, wingless insects that […]
[…]mating). Females often carry the young on their backs, and several species feed them with shredded insects. Emperor Scorpions and others exhibit complex social behaviors. Range and Habitat Scorpions are found on all continents except Antarctica, and live in deserts, grasslands, caves, rainforests, human dwellings and many other habitats. A […]
[…]a diet of earthworms, waxworms, calci-worms and butterworms; mealworm pupae, housefly larvae, and canned silkworms are accepted by some individuals. I also collect and offer cutworms and other smooth caterpillars, beetle grubs and slugs (please see articles linked below). While vertebrate prey is not needed, some believe that insectivorous […]
[…]insects, should be offered regularly. In order to increase dietary variety, try canned grasshoppers, snails and silkworms. Cicadas, beetles, grasshoppers, moths and other wild-caught insects should be provided as well; please see the article linked below for further information on safely collecting insects. Young Sailfin Dragons are primarily carnivorous, […]
[…]strategy, known as Aggressive Mimicry, is used by certain spiders but had not been observed in insects. Bait-Users and Blood-Suckers Other species of Assassin Bugs hold dead termites in their jaws when hunting. This either hides the Assassin or encourages other termites to investigate, there by assuring the hunter an […]
[…]diet has been implicated in liver problems. Other important food items include earthworms, krill, canned snails, and freeze-dried river shrimp and, to a lesser extent, crickets, waxworms and other insects. Health Considerations Salmonella bacteria, commonly present in turtle digestive tracts, can cause severe illnesses in people. Handling an animal will […]
[…]swimmers, Big Heads do best when kept in shallow water. I always offer crayfishes, fresh and canned snails and crabs, but others have had success with standard carnivorous turtle diets. They become uncomfortable when water temperatures rise above the mid-seventies, and fare best at 68-72 F. I heat a semi-submerged […]
[…]and Green Diving Beetles will get along with others of their kind and with robust aquatic insects such as Whirligig Beetles and Backswimmers. They will be attacked and consumed by Giant Water Bugs and their relatives. Except for the largest species, most Diving Beetles do not molest fishes. However, even […]
[…]quarters. Their hunting strategy – leaping to the ground from arboreal perches to chase insects – makes cage height an especially important consideration. An adult requires an enclosure measuring at least 3’ x 3’ x 4’ high. Otherwise, most of the Frilled Dragon’s needs can be easily met, and they […]
[…]throughout the warmer months, will attract tiny gnats, moths, beetles and flies along with larger insects. These too make fine foods for your smaller pets. Further Reading…Meadow Plankton “Meadow plankton” is a term given to the myriads of insects and other invertebrates that can be gathered by sweeping a net […]
[…]reference arose in 1705, when Swiss naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian included, in a book on the insects of Suriname, a painting of a Pink-Toed Tarantula consuming a hummingbird. The name she coined, “Bird-eating Spider”, remains in common usage today. While I’ve no doubt that a Goliath Tarantula would happily make […]
[…]of life”!) value. The ZooMed Bug Napper Insect Trap is an invaluable aid in collecting flying insects. Other insects that Red-Eyes under my care have accepted include “non-hairy” caterpillars, snowy tree crickets, tiny orange-spotted roaches, potato and other small beetles, field crickets and termites. Houseflies are, in my opinion, nearly […]
[…]spend more time on land, but remain close water. A wide variety of foods, including fishes, frogs, insects, crayfishes, plants and fallen fruits, is taken. Over-collection for the food trade has caused Chinese populations, which are listed on CITES Appendix III, to plummet. Pet trade animals in the USA are […]
[…]diet comprised of roaches, crickets, butterworms, hornworms, super mealworms, wild-caught insects and other invertebrates; pink mice can be offered 1-2 times weekly. Canned snails and grasshoppers, and hard-boiled eggs, can be used to provide variety. Nile Monitors and similar species fare well on mice and rats alone; whole freshwater fishes […]
[…]be provided a nutritious diet; please see these articles on cricket and earthworm care). Canned grasshoppers, snails, and silkworms offer an easy means of increasing dietary variety. Never offer food with your fingers! Use plastic feeding tongs – frogs are “unable to control themselves” when hungry, and often suffer wounds […]
[…]native caterpillar hunters are mostly large and brightly-colored, and spend the day searching for insects and their pupae. Over 2,000 species (Family Carabidae) roam our forests, fields and parks, with 40,000+ having been described worldwide. One, the forest caterpillar hunter, was imported to the USA from Europe in 1905 to […]
[…]Green Snakes and other insect-eaters usually refuse crickets and other readily-available foods (canned silkworms may be a useful alternative). The fish-eating Water Garter and Ribbon Snakes are a good option for many folks. Considering a snake purchase is an important decision. If you need more time to consider the aspects […]
[…]see the article below for details. Other Insect Alternatives Lacewings and other tiny insects that are sold to nurseries and gardeners are also potentially useful herp foods. Please check out those offered by the Beneficial Insect Company, and look for my articles on other species in the future. Please also […]
[…]dietary variety; please post below for information on suitable wild plants and toxic species. Insects Insects should be used only as a rare treat, or perhaps to induce a reluctant feeder or habituate a shy individual to your presence. Any insects that are offered should be small in size, as […]
[…]wild-caught, Butterworms likely provide nutrients absent from commercially-reared insects. They also exceed all other typical feeder insects in calcium content (please see Introduction, above), with only silkworms and phoenix worms approaching them in this regard (some find silkworms to be delicate, and phoenix worms are quite small, but both are […]
[…]above-ground while hanging in a head-down position from a tree. The net is tossed onto passing insects and even, on occasion, small frogs. And then we have the incredible Spitting Spiders (Scytodes spp). These aptly-named beasts squirt double streams of silk at insects, pinning them down and then delivering the […]
[…]has been linked diets low in Vitamin A. If your frogs or toads are having difficulty catching insects, please see the link below, or post here for further information on this disorder. Further Reading Adding Carotenoids to Cricket Diets Carotenoid Supplementation may Brighten Frog Colors Do Your […]
[…]of invertebrates. The ZooMed Bug Napper Insect Trap is an invaluable aid in collecting flying insects such as moths, beetles and flies – the Chameleons reactions to these will leave no doubt as to their value in improving your pets’ quality of life. Caterpillars, Snowy Tree crickets, Orange-spotted Roaches, Field […]
[…]carried among its body hairs. The spider lives within this bell and swims out to catch passing insects, fishes and tadpoles. Fishing Spiders (Dolomedes spp.) float on the water or remain on emergent plants with the forelegs touching the surface. Recently, it has been discovered that some species actually lure […]
[…]Napper is a valuable insect-collecting tool. In order to increase dietary variety, try offering canned silkworms via feeding tongs. A mixture of papaya/apricot baby food, honey, a liquid reptile vitamin supplement and water should be offered weekly. Food offered to adult anoles should be sprinkled with a vitamin/mineral supplement 2-5 […]
[…]a more varied winter diet for your collection. If you happen upon a particularly rich source of insects, you might even experiment with freezing some for winter use…please write in and let me know if you do. Further Reading Hibernation/Brumation in Bearded Dragons and Other Herps. Raising Sow Bugs and […]
[…]the body. Hemoglobin imparts both color and common name to these small (to 1 inch in length) insects. Life Cycle In the wild, Bloodworms feed ravenously on organic detritus for 10-12 days, after which they pupate and then leave the water as winged adults. The adults, known as Midges, tend […]
[…]are ravenous predators and actively hunt aquatic worms, amphipods, small tadpoles and other insects; terrestrial insects that have fallen into the water and carrion are also taken. Reproduction Diving Beetle eggs are attached to aquatic plants. The elongated, aquatic larvae are known as “Water Tigers” and, equipped with out-sized jaws, […]
[…]things, leaves, sticks, bark and lichen. Orchid mantids so closely resemble their namesakes that insects often alight directly upon them, mistaking the spectacularly-colored predators for flowers. Farmer’s Friend Insatiable appetites have long endeared mantids to farmers the world over. The Chinese mantid was imported into the USA in 1896 to […]
[…]hatchlings prefer lizard or toad-scented pink mice at first (some keepers report that water from canned tuna also works well). In time, they can be weaned onto unscented mice. Breeding In their natural habitat, Western Hognose Snakes breed from March-May, and females deposit 4-25 eggs approximately 3 months later. […]
[…]be employed to help provide the frogs with important dietary variety in the form of wild-caught insects. All insects offered the frogs should be powdered with vitamin/mineral supplements for the first few months following transformation. The White Lipped or Indonesian Giant Green Treefrog (Litoria infrafrenata) Native to extreme northeastern Australia, […]
[…]and other vertebrates! So how do we get at them? More on that next week. Other Sources of Tiny Insects The Zoo Med Bug Napper, a very effective insect trap that I rely upon throughout the warmer months, will attract tiny gnats, moths, beetles and flies along with larger insects. […]
[…]see these articles on cricket and earthworm care) To increase dietary variety, try wiggling canned grasshoppers, snails and silkworms in front of your frog (using tongs, not your fingers!). Food (other than pinkies and fish) should be powdered with Zoo Med ReptiCalcium plus D3 or a similar product. Vitamin/mineral supplements […]
[…]of a Pink-toed Tarantula consuming a hummingbird, published in Maria S. Merian’s book on the insects of Suriname, aroused so much attention (and horror!) that all New World tarantulas are commonly termed “bird-eating spiders” to this day. It seems now that amphibian fanciers have their own dramatic bird-eater – Limnonectes […]
[…]or rushing from burrows fitted with hinged doors (trap door spider). However, all spiders consume insects, including agricultural pests and disease-bearing species, to some degree. Field research has shown that harmful flies comprising over 60% of the diet of certain web-building species. It is estimated that the weight of the […]
[…]reactions and secondary infections. I’ve worked with huge colonies of these and other feeder insects in zoos, and coworkers seem to have developed allergies to crickets, but I have not heard of similar reports concerning roaches. As of now, precautions rather than outright avoidance of Hissing Roaches are being advised. […]
[…]trade (I find the lime-green Banana Roach, Panchlora nivea, to be among the most beautiful of all insects…please see photo and article below for information on keeping roaches). Recently, entomologists were surprised to discover a new species on the grounds of a famous South African resort. Christened the Leaproach, Saltoblattela monistabularis, […]
[…]with…even in habitats I’ve explored since childhood. Each season, I wind up keeping several insects or spiders that catch my interest. Care is needed, but the rewards are worthwhile. Collecting insects for bird and herp food was standard practice during my many years at the Bronx Zoo…please see the linked […]
[…]had good success with a diet comprised largely of earthworms, roaches, crickets and wild-caught insects (please see my article on Collecting Feeder Insects). I use shiners and crayfishes as a calcium source, but a pink mouse may be offered every 6-8 weeks if desired. Smokey Jungle Frogs are hunted by […]
While reviewing the outdoor aviaries that were recently added to out line of bird cages, it struck me that these large, sturdy enclosures could be put to good use by reptile and amphibian keepers. Outdoor pens, both at home and in zoos, have given rise to some of my most […]
[…]coloration), hard-boiled egg, nuts, seeds, dry seaweed (sold as Nori), oatmeal, fish flakes, canned crickets, and freeze-dried fish foods (krill, plankton, brine shrimp, etc.). They also relish decaying wood and leaf litter; these should be collected from pesticide-free areas. Cuttlebone bits and reptile calcium powder should be mixed into your […]
[…]Scientifically referred to as Acheta domesticus, the type of crickets sold as feeder insects have a higher protein value and a more docile nature in comparison to their wild counterparts. Although there are a few loopholes, due to laws that govern the importation of potentially invasive species, insects which are […]
Springtails are minute, primitive, wingless insects classified in the Order Collembola. Over 6,000 species are found in most temperate and tropical habitats, where they figure importantly in the diets of Poison Frogs (Dendrobates, Phyllobates, Oophaga), small salamanders and newly metamorphosed amphibians of many kinds. Please see Part I of this […]
[…]Please see this article for information on their husbandry and use. Supplements All commercial insects (crickets, fruit flies) should be powdered with Tetra ReptoCal or Zoo Med ReptiCalcium. A vitamin/mineral supplement such as ReptiVite with D3 should be used 2-3 times weekly. I do not supplement wild-caught insects. Colleagues in […]
[…]Napper is a valuable insect-collecting tool. In order to increase dietary variety, try offering canned silkworms via feeding tongs. A mixture of papaya/apricot baby food, honey, liquid reptile vitamins, and water should be offered weekly. Food offered to adult anoles should be sprinkled with a vitamin/mineral supplement 2-5 times per […]
[…]if the terrarium and substrate are sterilized, they will invariably enter as hitchhikers on food insects. Most Mites are intolerant of dry conditions, and hence rarely appear in enclosures housing Red-Kneed Tarantulas, Desert Hairy Scorpions or other species that hail from arid habitats. The white Mites observed in invertebrate and […]
[…]available foods of appropriate size – pinhead crickets and fruit flies. The minute, wingless insects known as Springtails (Order Collembola) are easy to procure and rear, and offer a convenient means of increasing dietary variety for small amphibians. Natural Diets of Smaller Amphibians Most small terrestrial frogs and salamanders forage […]
[…]and steer clear of farms where pesticides are known to be applied regularly. Avoid also local insects that are considered to be agricultural pests, as they are likely the subject of control measures (this may apply to aphids, caterpillars, Japanese Beetles, etc.). Enjoy Despite the precautions that must be taken, invertebrate […]
[…]and White-Spotted Assassins can be kept in large colonies. They seem to prefer other insects to one-another as food…cannibalism is not a concern as long as they are well-fed and sprayed frequently with water. Both are rainforest inhabitants, and do well in humid terrariums (humidity 60-80%) at 76-86 F. Cork […]
[…]in mealworms and crickets. Protein and fat levels fall midway between those found in other feeder insects – 17.3% and 9.4%, respectively; crickets average 21% protein, while the fat content of super mealworms is 18%. Word-of-mouth evidence also supports the value of Black Soldier Fly larvae. Bird bone and beak […]
[…](Collembolla sp.) Springtails are minute (as in smaller than fruit flies), primitive insects that can be collected from beneath leaf litter or purchased. They feed upon decaying vegetables and fish flakes, and breed readily. Wild-Caught Invertebrates Wild-caught invertebrates can impart important variety to captive diets. Learn to identify stinging and […]
[…]there. They often congregate near outdoor lights at night in search of moths, beetles and other insects. Reproduction This opportunistic breeder may reproduce year-round or in the wet season, depending upon locality. Males call from the edges of ephemeral ponds, ditches and similar habitats. Females lay 100-400 eggs in foam […]
[…]exterminators, the only people who actively seek out termites – but we have good reason. These insects (fascinating in their own right, by the way) are a valuable food source for a number of reptiles and amphibians. Termites are particularly important for poison frogs, and form a major component of […]
[…]Costa Rica, I observed Marine Toads that had learned to gather under a light and wait for stunned insects…most nights, they began congregating before the light went on. I’ve seen wild wild electric eels demonstrate their intelligence, and one recent study revealed that insects of the same species exhibit surprising […]
[…]are promoted for convenience-sake and as an option for pet owners who do not wish to handle live insects or rodents. However, I’m mainly interested in Zoo Med’s Pacman Frog Food because it may help to solve 2 recurring problems faced by frog owners. The first is the difficulty in […]
[…]well as smaller salamanders. The larvae prey upon zooplankton, dragonfly larvae and other aquatic insects, fairy shrimp, tadpoles, red-spotted newt larvae and each other. Spotted salamanders produce toxic skin secretions but are none-the-less consumed by garter snakes and hog-nosed snakes. Introduced trout, bass, goldfish and other fishes prey upon the […]
[…]are attracted to ginger, which releases a chemical (Alpha Copaene) known to attract wood-boring insects. Ginger-baited traps proved very effective. Simultaneously, tiny microphones were used to detect the noises made beetle larvae as they moved about below ground or in dead wood (many invertebrates stridulate, or vibrate various body parts, […]
[…]had very good results with earthworm-based diets over many years. Commercially Available Insects The balance of the diet can consist of crickets, roaches, super mealworms, waxworms, tomato hornworms and other commercially available insects. Large roaches (as well as nightcrawlers) present an excellent means of keeping your frog sated without resorting […]
[…]contain calcium and phosphorus in a ratio of 1:1, 1.5:1 or 2:1. Crickets and many other feeder insects in their natural (“un-supplemented”) state have a calcium: phosphorus ratio of only 0.3:1. Zookeepers and hobbyists have long coated crickets with high-quality powdered calcium and vitamin/mineral supplements in an effort to improve […]
[…]nutrients…again, the aquarium fish trade provides us with useful options…from fresh water insects to marine animals (use these in moderation), there are a number of very valuable herp foods to be had. Animals that accept only live prey are especially troublesome when it comes to supplementation, as one cannot coat […]
[…]the articles linked below. Today I’ll discuss earwigs – common, hardy, and largely-ignored insects that have great potential as pet food. They are also extremely interesting in their own right, with females caring for their eggs and actually carrying food to the young! Why Earwigs? Earwigs are readily accepted by […]
[…]green frogs, Rana (Lithobates) clamitans in an outdoor pen, where I used ripe fruit to attract insects for them to eat. Year after year, I observed the same frogs to studiously avoid yellow-jackets and other wasps, while snapping up flies and beetles located close to the wasps. It would appear […]
[…]can be collected. Do not leave large numbers of ants in the terrarium. Aphids – these tiny insects may be found on plant stems. Clip the stem and place it in the terrarium, or shake the insects over the tank – your frogs’ reactions will leave no doubt as to […]
[…]as food (dead mice are accepted). They fare well on roaches, earthworms, crickets and wild-caught insects such as grasshoppers and katydids. Mexican Red Knee Tarantula, Brachypelma smithi Quite different from the goliath in color, temperament and captive needs, the red knee is responsible for the advent of tarantula keeping in […]
[…]foods. The balance of the diet should be as varied as possible – earthworms, crickets and other insects, crayfish, shrimp, freeze dried prawn, pink mice, waxworms, mealworms, etc. Snappers will also eagerly accept most frozen foods marketed for tropical fish and catfish and cichlid pellets , but such should be […]
[…]species Food Bearded Dragon (adult): 36-48 insects per week Leopard Gecko (adult): 15-25 insects per week and 3 bowls salad per week Please note that these figures are meant to provide a general idea of expected food intake. The actual amount of food your lizard will consume […]
[…]vernal pond. Our net failed to find any water scorpions, diving beetles or other common aquatic insects, but many over-winter as eggs, and so are difficult to locate prior to maturity. Happily, the red-winged blackbirds were out in force, and calling all day. I’ve observed these early harbingers of […]
[…]most geckos to feed; many also respond with enthusiasm to moths, beetles and other wild caught insects. Please see my article on Raising Orange-Spotted Roaches for more information. I believe it to be very important to offer a variety of invertebrates to bent-toed geckos. If at all possible, try to […]
[…]study showed that an American Toad (a smaller animal than those in the trade) may eat over 20,000 insects in a single summer…how many would billions of much larger frogs consume?! In fact, when the trade decimated frog populations inSouth Asia, pesticide use immediately soared. After the main trade species […]
[…]roaches will provide you with many surprises. We still have a great deal to learn about these insects…observant keepers stand a good chance of learning something new. Water I use R-Zilla Cricket Calcium Drink Supplement as the sole water source for all roach species. This and similar gel-based products eliminates […]
[…]the articles linked below to read more about adding silkworms, house flies, sow bugs, wild-caught insects and other important foods to your pet’s diet. Studies have shown that some lizards will alter their diet in accordance with changing nutritional needs…your pet’s poor appetite may indicate that more variety is needed. […]
[…]indeed, they get along perfectly well without them in captivity. Please try to provide wild-caught insects whenever possible. Mine especially favor grasshoppers, katydids, large moths and cicadas. Avoid fireflies, brightly colored insects (due to possible toxicity) and bees, wasps and spiders. Zoo-Med’s Bug Napper is an excellent insect trap, and […]
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Judging from recent questions posted on this blog, there is a great deal of conflicting information available as regards the feeding of tortoise. The Greek or spur-thighed (Testudo graeca), marginated (T. marginata) and Hermann’s (T. hermanni) tortoises, collectively referred to as Mediterranean tortoises, and the popular […]
[…]human health concern, especially as regards hospital-based micro-organisms. It seems that insects are particularly effective at preventing the development of hard-to-kill microbes, and that most of the credit for this is due a unique group of chemicals known as antimicrobial peptides. It is hoped that human medications modeled after […]
[…]pollinators, and their larvae attack crop pests. North America’s 1,000+ Robber Flies prey upon insects, including injurious flies. Even Blowflies have their good points… their larvae eat the maggots of disease-bearing species and play a vital role in decomposition. Flies feature importantly in Forensic Entomology. By studying the types of […]
[…]in NYC’s Central Park. Diet Centipedes are formidable predators that consume a wide variety of insects and other invertebrates. The Amazonian Giant Centipede, the world’s largest (females may exceed 12 inches in length), and similarly-sized species also take bats, tarantulas, rodents, frogs, lizards, and small birds. Extinct forms topped 3 […]
[…]in the lower sound ranges (which are used by most frogs). Until now, only bats, whales and certain insects were thought to utilize ultrasonic calls. Unusual Ears And why the recessed eardrums? As stated in an article published in the May, 2008 issue of “Nature”, the torrent frogs eardrums are […]
[…]ideal, although newly-molted (white) grubs and pupae are fine. You can also offer wild-caught insects – please see the article below for more info. Feeding live food in a large, well-planted tank is a great way to observe your frogs’ natural hunting abilities. The Clawed Frogs that I kept in […]
[…]where 60+ species may be found. Diet All are predacious, with most consuming soft-bodied insects but some specializing in land snails, sowbugs and other scorpions. Larger species may take frogs, lizards, shrews and other sizable animals on occasion. Reproduction All scorpions thus far studied give birth to live young, and […]
[…]are favored over hippos, lions and elephants. Japanese hobbyists’ and entomologists’ work with insects and other invertebrates is nothing short of unbelievable – I was floored by the Tama Zoo’s giant insect house and its huge walk-through “aviary” for insects. Japan’s aquariums are among the worlds finest, and thrilled me […]
[…]spiderlings and other tiny pets. Springtails (Collembolla sp.) Springtails are minute, primitive insects that can be collected from beneath leaf litter or purchased. They feed upon decaying vegetables and fish flakes, and breed readily. Wild-Caught Invertebrates Wild-caught invertebrates can impart important variety to captive diets. Learn to identify stinging and […]
[…]that they prey upon small rodents, snakes, frogs, lizards and other vertebrates in addition to insects. Certainly, those under my care startled me with their voracious appetites. Ornamental Tarantulas: Beautifully-colored but rather aggressive – and very fast moving, I can assure you! – these SE Asian spiders are highly […]
[…]below) Flour beetle larvae Ants: experimenting required, as some species are rejected Aphids: tiny insects that colonize plant stems. Field Plankton: insects gathered by sweeping through tall grass with a net (also great fun for kids and adults alike, please see photo!) Baron’s Painted Mantellas have large appetites and […]
[…]well and uses rocks and stumps as basking sites and as platforms from which to launch attacks on insects moving about below. Diurnal, it basks at temperatures of 125 F for short periods and shelters in self-dug burrows during extremely hot or cold weather. To read the rest of this […]
[…]starts out as pet food but winds up as a pet. It’s small wonder, as these attractive insects are very interesting in their own right, and most agreeable to exhibiting their natural behaviors to the patient observer. Coming into Their Own Roaches are finally getting the attention they deserve from […]
In Part I of this article, we discussed the role played by plants in the diets of popular North American “basking” turtles such as Red-Eared and Yellow-Bellied Sliders, Map, Red-Bellied and Chicken Turtles, and Cooters. Useful Plants and Vegetables As your turtles grow out of the hatchling stage, I suggest […]
[…]how much of its vitamin/mineral supplement coating will be passed along to your pet. Whether food insects will live or die within the terrarium, and how to keep track of the food intake of secretive or nocturnal pets will also affect the manner in which you must present the food. […]
[…]thrive if their unique dietary needs are not met. A diet that is too rich (i.e. high in fruit or insects) may kill them as quickly as will one lacking essential nutrients. Many species relish such seemingly unappetizing foods as dry split peas, millet, canary seed and other grains. Hailing […]
[…]and other amphibians fare poorly in stagnant air) yet are small enough to prevent small feeder insects from escaping. This set-up is dismantled and cleaned weekly – the terrarium’s light weight simplifies this chore. Substrate The substrate pictured in the photo is R-Zilla Compressed Frog Moss. American toads prefer a […]
[…]of North America for millions of years. The enforced isolation gave rise to innumerable bizarre insects, fishes, amphibians, dinosaurs and other creatures, many of which, it appears, have yet to be discovered. Two New Triceratops Relatives The strangest Laramidia resident to come to light so far is the recently described […]
[…]moisture levels. Ravenous predators (feed them crickets, roaches, waxworms, moths and other insects) and quick to “take offense”, these beauties live up to the “tiger” portion of their name quite well! Haitian Brown Tarantula, Phormictopus cancerides This species was formerly imported in large numbers, and was relatively inexpensive for […]
[…]to rapidly decimate cricket colonies. Misting the colony, a useful technique as regard many insects, is worse, and again will result in heavy losses. The advent of gel-based cricket water substitutes is one of the most important recent innovations in food animal maintenance. These products save time and money by […]
[…]Hidden within the produce crates were the creatures I sought – tree frogs, spiders, lizards, insects and such (I once narrowly missed a Mouse Opossum). All large spiders were called “Banana Spiders”…one, the Giant Crab or Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda venatoria), appeared on occasion but was always too fast for me. […]
[…]and will not fare well on crickets alone. Housefly cultures, silkworms, roaches, moths and other insects are essential to their well-being. The comments in this article on Red-Eyed Treefrog Diets are largely applicable; please write in if you have any questions on this critical aspect of husbandry. Breeding Mature males […]
[…]are specialized predators of crayfishes, clams and snails, while the much smaller males take insects, carrion and plants. Captive Diets Many commercial Aquatic Turtle Diets provide excellent nutrition and can serve as a dietary mainstay, and there is some evidence that diet of Reptomin and Freeze Dried Krill meets all […]
[…]across – other lizards, snakes, turtle and bird eggs, small mammals, fish, frogs, crabs, large insects and carrion – and were major predators in this flooded grassland habitat. I managed to catch a few young tegus, but old, battle-scarred individuals were impossible to approach, fleeing with amazing speed at the […]
[…]as the breeding season arrives. Please see these articles for further information on collecting insects. Incubating the Eggs Eggs may be incubated in vermiculite or moist sphagnum moss. I prefer to use a vermiculite and water in a 1:1 ratio by weight (please see this article for details on setting […]
[…]male spiders usually offered worthless husks, while well-fed males presented entire insects. Follow-up lab studies revealed that females accepted both intact and empty gifts (it takes time for them to unwrap the insects and discover the con-artists!), but were more likely to mate with heavier, well-fed males, regardless of the […]
[…]cousins, however, Phorid Flies and their larvae (or maggots) are scavengers, feeding upon dead insects, feces, eggs and necrotic flesh associated with wounds. Potential Problems While Phorid Flies have not been known to injure healthy herps or invertebrates, in addition to being a plain nuisance they can colonize wounds, where […]
[…]available commercially. Ants: experimenting required, as some species are rejected. Aphids: tiny insects that colonize plant stems. “Field Plankton”: insects gathered by sweeping through tall grass with a net. Mantellas have large appetites and should be fed every day or two. One Brown Mantella was observed to eat 53 ants […]
[…]in the wild, but, judging from observations of captive animals, they likely consume carrion, insects, snails and other invertebrates as well. Mine have thrived on a diet comprised of a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, crickets, earthworms, mealworms, pink mice and commercial turtle chow. Further Reading Please […]
[…]legs to a dock, plant or rock and keep the front legs on the water’s surface. Fish, tadpoles or insects that disturb the surface are instantly attacked, with the spiders moving out over the water for several inches if necessary. Flying insects that fall onto the water likely comprise the […]
[…]chow and baby cereal can all be fed to crickets, but none are formulated specifically for these insects, and each has disadvantages. When feeding crickets in public collections or at home, I now rely exclusively upon commercial cricket foods. The following products are all very well-accepted by these perpetually hungry […]
[…]Tadpoles, Newts, smaller African Clawed Frogs, Crayfishes, Freshwater Shrimp, Snails and aquatic insects such as Diving Beetles would all benefit from a dose of earthworm nutrients in their diet. Earthworm Flake Food might also be tried with those animals that, while preferring live invertebrates, can sometimes be induced to accept […]
[…]mantids Ants: not all are accepted; beware of large/aggressive species. Aphids: tiny insects that colonize plant stems. “Field Plankton”: insects gathered by sweeping through tall grass with a net. Tiny flies and gnats; consider the Bug Napper trap. Tiny millipedes and other leaf litter invertebrates Important food supplements include Zoo […]
[…]and small minnows are an ideal calcium source, and dietary variety, including wild-caught insects, is essential. Basilisks are one of the few lizards that accept earthworms, and these are an ideal food source for both young and adult individuals. Soft-bodied roaches (i.e. Orange-Spotted Roaches) and silkworms are also favored. Young […]
[…]cannot help but inspire. Try Raymond Ditmars: his Exciting Life with Reptiles, Animals & Insects and In Search of Reptiles and Amphibians, a 1988 gem by modern-day herp legend Dick Bartlett. Observe Living in herp-poor environments should not deter you from looking about – I found NYC to hold surprising […]
Live plants are very useful in creating amphibian terrariums that are both attractive to the eye and beneficial for the animals housed therein. However, amphibian skin is permeable to substances as small as oxygen molecules. Several readers have recently questioned whether pesticides used on terrarium plants could harm amphibians through […]
[…]– the water contained in the base of pitcher plants. Pitcher “ponds”, which serve to drown insects that are digested by the plants, support miniature ecosystems inhabited by insect larvae, snails, crabs, algae and other organisms. The newly described frogs deposit their eggs on the surface of the plant above […]
[…]too large for many newborns! We relied primarily upon nutrient-loaded pinheads, springtails (tiny insects) and fruit flies, but I was concerned that such did not comprise a balanced diet. I collected tiny leaf-litter invertebrates (newly hatched millipedes, nematodes, ants, etc.) and fed these to the toads whenever possible. Please see […]
[…]variety of behaviors and have better breeding results, and the access to natural sunlight and wild insects is very beneficial for the animals. The arrival of winter, however, ends the fun and brings special challenges. Today I’ll cover indoor and outdoor hibernation of terrestrial and aquatic turtles and frogs, and […]
[…]Greater Sirens take a wide variety of prey, including fish, frogs, other salamanders, tadpoles, insects, crayfishes, shrimps, snails and carrion. Some suggest that ducklings and small rodents are not beyond their grasp, and that algae may be consumed by juveniles. Miscellaneous Greater Sirens aestivate (become dormant) during droughts. At these […]
[…]be provided a varied diet consisting of crickets, waxworms, roaches, locusts and wild caught insects. All species kept to date require very damp conditions and temperatures of 72-76 F. Despite their tropical origins, tailless whipscorpions are most often found in caves, wells, hollow trees and other cool micro-habitats. Most fail […]
While most people acknowledge that spiders perform a valuable service by consuming harmful insects, there remains the lingering belief that the vast majorities are dangerously venomous, and do more harm than good. Today I’d like to pass along some facts and figures that you may find interesting. Venom All spiders […]
[…]available vegetables, along with occasional feedings of crickets, mealworms, beetles and other insects. I’ve found dandelion flowers to be a great favorite, and usually mix some soaked Tortoise Pellets into the salad as well. A Unique Defense Chuckwallas spend a good deal of time basking on rocks to achieve their […]
[…]food items. Dietary variety is important for health reasons. But providing different types of insects can also incite new interest in feeding. We see this most commonly in chameleons, but the enthusiasm your Leopard Geckos will show for novel foods will leave you with no doubt as to their value. […]
[…]well-experienced and able to provide for their very specific needs. Those that accept a variety of insects, such as the Short-Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma douglassii, are better choices than the ant specialists. The Short-Horned Lizard, I learned to my surprise and delight many years ago, also gives birth to live young. […]
[…]The waning days of summer bring with them the annual die-off of untold millions of large, juicy insects – the annual and periodical cicadas. More than 100 of the world’s 2,000+ cicada species make their home in North America, and they are widely distributed. I still hear them regularly in […]
[…]reproduction or parthenogenesis – producing young without mating – is well known among insects and certain fishes (including Hammerhead Sharks), some of which can even switch sexes several times. It has also been recorded in a small number of reptiles, such as the Brahminy Blind Snake, American Whiptail Lizards and […]
Note: For further information on red eared sliders in the wild and captivity, please see The Red Eared Slider in Outdoor Ponds and Typical and Atypical Habitats of the Red Eared Slider The red eared slider is familiar to herp enthusiasts the world over, but many of its relatives […]
[…]of all tarantula genera, seem to live only in plants known as Tank Bromeliads. There they ambush insects that are attracted to water that collects at the bromeliads’ bases. Among the newly-described species (genus Typhochaena) we also find the world’s smallest arboreal tarantulas. Please see the article below for natural […]
[…]second day hunting accuracy rises to 20%. On day 4, the one-eyed hunters successfully capture insects on 50% of their attempts. Senses of Hearing and Smell Chameleons do not hear well …like snakes, they detect air vibrations and low-pitched sounds only. The Jacobsen’s organ, which allows many other reptiles to […]
[…]so efficiently. Fish are favored by most, but tadpoles, crayfish, snails, carrion, worms, and insects are also taken; larger species occasionally add small lizards, frogs, snakes, and mammals to the diet. Pet Snake Necks fare best on a diet comprised largely of whole organisms such as earthworms, occasional […]
[…]in increasing numbers in Broward County, Palm Beach and the Corkscrew Swamp. Capable of tackling insects, other lizards, frogs, nestling birds and small mammals, Giant Ameivas likely represent a significant threat to native wildlife. Florida’s Giant Ameivas occur in 2 rather distinct forms, being either dark-colored or brightly-marked in green. […]
[…]Natricinae and the family Colubridae. Diet Frogs, tadpoles, earthworms, salamanders, fishes and insects comprise the diets of most species. Several are immune to the virulent skin toxins of amphibians such as California newts, which have caused human fatalities when ingested, and toxin-protected American toads are the primary food of plains […]
[…]monkeys rub their bodies with millipedes, apparently using these secretions to deter biting insects and parasites (please see below). Despite common names suggesting the presence of thousands of legs, most species have less than 150 pairs. The “leggiest”, a rare millipede from the American Southwest, sports 750 legs (please see […]
[…]and spiders, are drawn to homes and gardens due to an unnaturally high density of prey (rodents, insects) and in search of shelter. During the dry season in Venezuela, I collected numerous treefrogs, bats and spiders indoors. Snakes and Primate Evolution So, based on my experiences, I leaned toward a […]
[…]and lay fertile eggs for years after a single mating. The young, jet black in color, forage for insects, worms and carrion in shallow water, and often remain buried beneath the mud with only the eyes and nostrils exposed (as do adults). Hatchlings are preyed upon by large fish, bull […]
[…]with the tails of some species sporting holes and irregularities that seem to have been chewed by insects. They also adopt poses and movements that heighten their camouflaging coloration and body form – the Nosy Be Gecko, for example, can hang head down from a branch in near-perfect mimicry of […]
[…]in prey weighing half as much as itself. Armed in this manner, large chameleons take quite large insects, and even small birds and rodents on occasion. Further Reading Chameleon reproductive behavior is among the lizard-world’s most complex. The abstract of an interesting research project is posted at […]
[…]over many years, fishes and birds that had concentrated the toxin in the course of feeding upon insects. The non-target species were not killed outright, but the cumulative effects of the concentrated DDT rendered bird eggshells brittle and subject to breakage. There are, of course, exceptions…but, in any event, pesticides […]
[…]Malayan Leaf Frog calling (great!) Malayan Leaf Frog Natural History Frog Diets Collecting Feeder Insects Horned Frog image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Olaf Leillinger Aphids image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Michel Vuijlsteke Aphids image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Michel […]
[…]size that renders Poison Frogs as difficult captives. They take live food only, and suitably-sized insects may be difficult to supply. Pinhead crickets and fruit flies, the most easily obtainable foods, are not an adequate long term diet. Springtails, flour beetle grubs, termites, leaf litter invertebrates, aphids, and other wild-caught […]
[…]Scavengers Isopods are crustaceans, and as such provide a variety of nutrients not to be found in insects. Another thing I like about using them has to do with their appetites – they will eat anything, so by feeding them a rich and varied diet you are improving their value […]
[…]site of 88-90 F, is ideal. Diet Wild Spotted Turtles feed upon fish, tadpoles, snails, carrion, insects, crayfish, shrimp, salamanders, frogs and aquatic plants. Pets should be offered a diet comprised largely of whole animals such as minnows, shiners, earthworms, snails, crayfish, and prawn. Some adults will also accept […]
[…]roaches, crickets, butterworms, waxworms, calciworms, silkworms, hornworms and wild caught insects is critical for their long-term health. Like most related lizards, Emerald Swifts are high-strung and should be viewed as pets to observe rather than handle. Long Tailed Grass Lizard, Takydromus sexlineatus This active, attractive lizard is also sold […]
[…]an excellent choice as a staple; blackworms, guppy fry, chopped earthworms, brine shrimp and small insects are appreciated. Most Eastern Newt populations pass through a 1 to 3 year-long terrestrial stage, during which time they are known as Efts. The orange or red Efts (please see photo) consume tiny crickets, […]
[…]Asian Leaf Turtle’s appetite knows no bounds…in the wild, fish, tadpoles, snails, carrion, insects, and fruit are all taken with equal relish. Pets should be offered a diet comprised largely of whole animals such as earthworms, snails, insects, crayfish, prawn, minnows, an occasional pre-killed pink mouse and a variety of […]
[…]in peak condition with a diet comprised of Reptomin, Freeze Dried Shrimp, minnows, earthworms, insects and dandelion and other greens (please see the article below for notes on feeding vegetables). Most other aquatic turtle foods can also be offered from time to time. Basic Necessities Other necessary husbandry tool are readily available […]
[…]minnows, earthworms, well-fed crickets, roaches and wild-caught cicadas, grasshoppers and other insects. Field notes on albino bullfrog tadpoles in the wild are detailed in an article posted at: http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/vnhs/pdf-files/pdf-full-articles/Full-Bullfrog%20albino%20tadpole.pdf A visitor to the aquarium exhibit mentioned in this article has posted a video about it, see […]
[…]natural diet. Wild individuals seem to feed primarily upon grasshoppers, roaches and other large insects, frogs, crabs, and snails. Scorpions, termites, birds and their eggs, and fish have also been recorded as being consumed. A rodent-only diet will not work well for Rough Necked Monitors. Youngsters should be fed […]
[…]were the most readily accepted live foods; butterworms, crickets, waxworms, and wild-caught insects were taken sporadically. A Two-Foot-Long Gecko? Haplodactylus delcourti, a gecko native to New Zealand, was, at 24.5 inches, a good deal longer than the New Caledonian Giant. This species is known from only a single specimen. It […]
[…]Sea Scorpions and their Prey Scorpions: an Overview of Popular Species Why Were Prehistoric Insects so Huge? Giant Sea Scorpion image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by University of Bristol/Associated Press National Museum of Natural History, palaeontological exhibition, ordovician, Washington D.C image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted […]
[…]feed almost entirely upon fresh water mussels, snails and crayfish. Males take smaller snails, insects, crayfish, and fish. Pets should be offered a diet comprised largely of snails, crayfish, and mussels, along with whole fishes, earthworms and prawn. Those under my care accepted apple snails and other native and […]
[…]well as “insurance”. Protein In their natural environment, young Green Iguanas consume both insects and vegetation before switching to a plant-based diet as they mature. While success has been had by using insects as a protein source for young iguanas, most keepers are better off relying upon legumes, such as […]
[…]while others refused them. Smaller species (i.e. Butler’s Garter Snake) often accept insects and slugs. Garter snakes may be immune to the toxins of amphibians found in their habitats, but not to those of related species. An aquatic garter snake that can safely feed upon California newts, for example, might […]
[…]minnows, goldfishes and shiners. If available, hellgrammites, dragonfly larvae and other aquatic insects should be offered. The tadpoles of most native frogs are taken as well (please see photo), but I discourage using other amphibians as food for a variety of reasons (please write in if you need further info). […]
[…]believe that anoles are quick learners because they evolved in complex environments occupied by insects that are difficult to capture. Mental acuity may partially explain the phenomenal success of this group, and the huge number of species (391 at last count) that now exist. But the existence of intelligent reptiles […]
[…]30 years) in captivity. Inquisitive, handle-able and with easily met dietary requirements (live insects not needed!), Blue Tongues are becoming ever more popular among lizard fanciers. Which Skink is Which? Blue Tongue Skink taxonomy is somewhat confusing, with pet trade names, hybrids and captive bred color phases (i.e. orange, “sunglow”) […]
[…]be provided a healthful diet for several days prior to use. If possible, also offer wild-caught insects (avoid pesticide-sprayed areas, and learn to identify stinging and toxic species; please see the articles linked below). Moths, beetles, grasshoppers, tree crickets, earwigs, “smooth” caterpillars and a variety of others will be […]
[…]effective camouflage was not new to me – I had long marveled at Gaboon Vipers, Leaf Insects and other masters – the Mossy Frogs topped all I had seen. Installed in an exhibit with moss and lichen covered rocks, they were nearly impossible to locate. Even when I found one […]
[…]that as many as 1,000 may be poached each week! Lemurs, gorgeously-colored Mantella Frogs, plants, insects and scores of creatures are all in dire straits. Fortunately, Mantellas and certain others breed well in captivity, but many species do not. Chameleon Research Recent studies of chameleons have challenged a few basic […]
[…]Monitors take a wide variety of prey animals, including grasshoppers, roaches, and other large insects, frogs, crabs, snails, bats, rodents and other small mammals, birds and their eggs, turtle eggs, and fish. Populations living in mangrove swamps seem to favor crabs and snails…in my experience, crabs and crayfish always elicit […]
[…]species, however (i.e. Genus Pristidactylus), are largely terrestrial. Anoles feed mainly upon insects, spiders and other invertebrates. Several species have been observed to lap nectar and sap, and the Puerto Rican anole (A. cristatellus wileyae) sometimes consumes fruit. The green anole is the only species native to the USA, although […]
[…]any creature they can overpower, and their strike rivals that of any snake in speed; fishes, insects, snails, crayfishes, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders and carrion are all on the menu. The flattened mouth ridges seen in some species may be an adaptation to crushing mussels and other mollusks. While field research […]
[…]behaviors in captivity. They are also quite active and their efforts at tracking down live insects in complex displays are very interesting to observe. The Terrarium A vertically-oriented “tall style” aquarium of at least 30 gallon capacity is ideal is ideal for Green Snakes –cramped, bare quarters will lead to […]
[…]the first part of this article. Diet Mexican axolotls feed upon shrimp, aquatic worms, copepods, insects and other invertebrates and small fish. Adults are major predators upon small axolotls and axolotl eggs. The larvae are largely carnivorous, but may consume some algae as well. Their main predators are herons and […]
[…]of behaviors in small enclosures. Lessons learned by hobbyists while keeping over 300 species of insects, spiders and scorpions have been applied to conservation programs for the Karner Blue Butterfly, Red-kneed Tarantula and scores of other endangered animals. Similar scenarios apply to hundreds of reptile, amphibian, fish, bird and coral […]
[…]feeding strategies of each. For example, American toads will likely gobble up all non-climbing insects before anoles even begin to feed. On the other hand, anoles will leave no food for nocturnal hunters, such as green treefrogs, if all feeding is done during the day (the solution is to add […]
[…]and other vertebrates must obtain them from their diet. Improving the Carotenoid Content of Feeder Insects Researchers at the University of Manchester and the Chester Zoo investigated carotenoid levels in three species of crickets and three different cricket diets (Zooquaria, No. 5, p.6). One of those studied, the Domestic or […]
[…]capacity. During warm weather, Marine Toads can be housed in secure outdoor enclosures as well. Insects lured by a small light or over-ripe fruit will supply your toads with important dietary variety. Their enclosure should be topped by a screen cover secured by clamps and the substrate should be kept […]
[…]to combat internal and external parasites. Diatomaceous earth is a desiccant, in that it kills insects by drawing moisture from their bodies. I believe it also clogs the spiracles, and so may interfere with respiration. Of course, an ant colony can send workers to replace those that are killed, but […]
[…]or comments below. Further Reading The Peace Lilies in the Terrarium Wild-Caught Insects as Reptile Food: Pesticide […]
[…]similar dried foods. Other favorites include live earthworms, blackworms, snails, tiny fishes, and insects. Like most newts, they become rather tame in captivity, readily accepting food from one’s fingers. Breeding Japanese Fire-Bellied Newts should be overwintered on wet moss at 40 to 50°F if breeding is to be successful. Courtship […]
[…]Orthopterans, such as the various wetas (please see photo), are among the world’s heaviest insects, and seem capable of being more herp predator than herp food! In response to a virus that threatened House Cricket supplies, commercial breeders have begun working with the Jamaican House Cricket, Gryllus assimilis. Adults are […]
[…]herbivorous and subsist largely upon aquatic vegetation and fallen fruits, but will also consume insects, fish, carrion, snails and crayfish (the preferred diet of juveniles). The yellow-spotted sideneck sometimes utilizes a feeding method known as neustophagia to filter particulate food matter from the water’s surface. The turtle opens its jaws […]
[…]have contributed to the evolution of its unique escape style – other desert-adapted spiders and insects are able to roll away from danger. Skeletons and Ghosts Southern California’s Santa Catalina Island is best known for sunny weather and beautiful ocean views. But a cave within one of its offshore […]
[…]toad or a 20 gallon long style tank for a pair. Be sure to use a fitted screen cover, as feeder insects are escape artists. Plastic Terrariums work well for young toads. Low Cost Alternative Plastic storage boxes can be transformed into “luxury toad suites”. Simply cut out a section […]
[…]in SW New Mexico and West Texas. Surveys of the habitat are not complete, but already 14 endemic insects have been discovered. Bringing Lizards into the Spotlight In light of the above, I applaud PARC’s decision to focus this year’s work on lizards. Coordinated research, conservation, and educational efforts will be utilized […]
[…]predators, with the various species taking an incredibly huge array of prey – termites and other insects, snails, spiders, crayfish and other invertebrates, birds and their eggs, frogs, turtles, snakes, hatchling crocodiles and other reptiles and amphibians, and rodents, weasels, tree kangaroos and other mammals to the size of adult […]
[…]toxins, and are preyed upon a wide range of animals, including fishes, newts, turtles and aquatic insects. The Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens, resembles the Pickerel Frog and shares much of its range (please see photo). The Leopard Frog lacks powerful skin toxins but may be avoided by predators due to […]
[…]into account). Repti Breeze cages also make fine permanent homes for mantids and other insects, anoles and many other arboreal lizards. Further Reading More Herp-Oriented Gift Ideas Constructing a Rain […]
[…]the tiny Oak Toad (A. quercicus) may present some feeding difficulties due to the size of the insects required. Other good choices for the terrarium include Houston, Southern, Fowler’s and Great Plains Toads. Owners invariably describe each using words such as “charming”, “droll”, “friendly” and “engaging”. All are sometimes active […]
[…]below rocks and leaf litter. They are excellent salamander food and avidly consume feces, dead insects and decaying moss (a bit of fish flake food added occasionally will keep them in top shape and assure that they reproduce). Land snails are also excellent scavengers, and both they and isopods […]
Snakes that feed solely upon insects, earthworms, spiders, snails and other invertebrates are a great choice for folks who would rather not handle rats and mice. They also have other attractive characteristics, including small size, inoffensive natures, and adaptability to naturalistic terrariums containing live plants. What’s more, most receive scant […]
[…]for the Rosy Boa, are seemingly endless. Several Rosy Boas that I encountered while studying insects in Baja California, which were blue-gray and marked with 3 pinkish-orange stripes, stand out as being among the most beautiful snakes I’ve seen. The Colombian Boa’s great size makes it vastly-more expensive to […]
[…]of 95-110 F Lizard Diet Leopard Geckos are carnivorous. Young Bearded Dragons feed largely upon insects, adding plants to the diet as they mature. Both require highly varied diets comprised of vitamin/mineral supplemented roaches, silkworms, crickets and other invertebrates. Bearded Dragons also need various greens and, perhaps, a high quality […]
[…]for a time. In the wild, youngsters feed primarily upon frogs, small lizards and, perhaps, large insects. Scenting a pinky with these foods will encourage reluctant feeders. Companions Many Milksnake subspecies favor other snakes as food, and are notorious cannibals. Hatchlings are especially difficult to rear in groups, but adults […]
[…]Small crayfishes are a great favorite (I remove the claws for safety’s sake). Crickets and other insects, shrimp, and frozen foods formulated for large aquarium fish are also readily accepted. After a time in captivity, most individuals will accept turtle pellets and freeze-dried shrimp. Related Articles Mudpuppy […]
[…]Gecko needs only a 10 gallon aquarium with a low-wattage basking bulb, and a diet of small live insects…much less expensive than a 6 foot-long Water Monitor kept in a room-sized cage supplied year-round with powerful heat lamps and UVB bulbs and feeding upon rats and other rodents. Veterinary […]
[…]goldfish ponds and filters are wonderful options. Nothing tops natural sunlight and an influx of insects in maintaining turtle health, and egg-deposition sites, almost impossible to include in aquariums, are easily arranged. Further Reading The Best Turtle Filters Turtle Water Quality Slider, Map and Painted Turtle […]
[…]prey they take –venomous snakes (please see video below), lizards, rodents, frogs, turtle eggs, insects and birds are all on the menu. Captives are rarely particular, however, and fare well on mice. Kingsnakes are quite hardy and breed readily, but cannot tolerate damp conditions. Cannibalism is a definite concern as […]
[…]diet as they mature. When purchased as hatchlings, many such turtles become accustomed to eating insects, fish, earthworms and high protein turtle chows, and steadfastly refuse to accept Vitamin A-rich greens as they reach adulthood. Efforts must be made to introduce these healthy foods early, and reluctant adults must be […]
[…]in natural diets of many reptiles and amphibians. They contain nutrients not found in insects, and are likely a rich source of calcium. Several species are easy to collect and breed in captivity, but, unlike sowbugs, they rarely attract much attention from hobbyists (please see the article below for information […]
[…]that can be overcome, including frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, small snakes and turtles, fish, insects, snails, crayfish and carrion. They hunt largely by smell, and appear to have chemo-receptive glands along the body – a food item touched by any portion of the body is instantly seized. The Mud Snake […]
[…]reds”) and golden shiners. Both are usually raised in outdoor ponds, and have therefore consumed insects and other invertebrates in addition to prepared diets. This may give them a superior nutrition profile. Depending upon the turtle species in question, I offer fish at least once weekly. I also use […]
[…]and other ground-nesting birds, lizards and their eggs, tortoise eggs, locusts and other large insects and carrion. These lizards are well-adapted to a harsh environment in which food is often scarce. They gorge when food is available, consuming up to 50% of their bodyweight, and in some areas eat but […]
[…]far more enthusiastically than are crickets! Please see these articles for tips on collecting insects. Useful invertebrates that you can buy include roaches, butterworms, calciworms, silkworms, and sow bugs. Newts are simpler to feed than are terrestrial species, as nearly all (i.e. Red-Spotted, Crested, Paddle-tailed, Ribbed) will accept […]
[…]almost all other frogs, accept non-living foods such as reptile and fish pellets (occasional insects are also appreciated). A simple filter and weekly partial water changes are essential to their health…provided that, African Clawed Frogs will prove to be among the hardiest of all amphibian pets. Further […]
[…]people. Their taxonomic order, Orthoptera, contains over 20,000 grasshoppers, katydids and related insects. The USA is home to over 120 cricket species; my favorites, the bizarre Mole Crickets, tunnel below-ground with spade-like front legs (please see photo). Over 3,000 species have been described worldwide. New Zealand’s “super cricket”, the Giant Weta, […]
[…]arboreal, they feed on the ground by dropping from their tree-trunk perches to intercept passing insects and small animals. Research has shown that, immediately after dry season fires, the percentage of large invertebrates in the frilled dragons’ diets increases significantly. It seems that the lizards are able to see larger […]
[…]including woodchucks, baby raccoons, flying squirrels and numerous native herps, birds, and insects, and simply could not keep up with the mole’s appetite. Reluctantly, I released the ravenous little beast – I’ve yet to come across another. I also kept another small insectivore, the Short-tailed Shrew. Driven by a […]
[…]have revealed that youngsters feed largely upon two snail species. Some adults add mussels, insects, fish and other items to the diet, but even these fail to thrive in zoos or private collections. I’ve spoken with people who have kept them in seemingly perfect situations, but all wind up frustrated. […]
[…]their keepers, and those living in developed areas learn to gather under street lights to capture insects. A field report detailing some of the unusual foods and other items found in the stomachs’ of free-living Marine Toads is posted […]
[…]natural variations are seemingly endless. Several individuals that I encountered while studying insects in Baja California, Mexico stand out as being among the most beautiful snakes I’ve seen. A number of unique color strains, ranging from black through orange-striped to white, have been developed by hobbyists. The Sand Boas Twelve […]
[…]creatures, but also take birds and their eggs. Young snakes include lizards, frogs and large insects (i.e. cicadas) in their diet. A colleague of mine observed 6 foot-long (yellow-phase) black ratsnake attempting to constrict a white-tailed deer fawn on St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia. The fawn, which might have set a […]
[…]reported to eat plants on occasion, the Common Musk feeds mainly upon crayfishes, fish, carrion, insects, leeches, tadpoles and snails. Hatchlings, vulnerable to predation due to their small size, are consumed by bullfrogs, fishes, giant water bugs, raccoons and other creatures. Captive Care As turtles go, Common Musks are quite […]
[…]Most terrariums should be misted twice daily. A Note on Diet Most geckos feed largely upon insects, but many take nectar and over-ripe fruits as well; the voracious Tokay Gecko will consume small birds, rodents, frogs, snakes and lizards. A highly-varied diet is essential – Crickets and mealworms alone, even […]
[…]natural diet is comprised of lizards, treefrogs and small birds; small arboreal rodents and insects may also be taken, but detailed field studies are lacking. Brown Anoles, Mediterranean Geckos and several other small lizards that have been introduced to Florida are the most reliably-available captive foods (in my experience, anoles […]
[…]Food and Reptomin Food Sticks can be used as the basis of the diet. Freeze-dried shrimp, “gelled insects”, and frozen fish foods (i.e. mosquito larvae) should be offered regularly. A variety of live foods will help ensure a balanced diet. Blackworms, bloodworms, earthworms, guppies, small crickets and similar foods […]
[…]Rodents, rabbits, snakes, birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs, fish, small turtles are large insects have been reported as being taken. I have first-hand experience with impressive biting power packed by most rodents, and find it amazing that Cribos do not utilize constriction, but merely grab and swallow their victims! […]
[…]African Mud Turtles take a huge variety of foods, including fish, tadpoles, snails, carrion, insects, frogs and small snakes. Aquatic and terrestrial plants have been reported in the diets of some populations as well. Pets should be offered a diet comprised largely of whole animals such as fish, earthworms, […]
[…]would move about in an apparent search for food. I’m wondering if youngsters consume insects as well; the closely-related Copperhead has been observed feeding upon cicadas and grasshoppers. Cottonmouths under my care were fed minnows, shiners, trout, goldfish, mice and rats; I’ve always meant to try crayfish, but unfortunately […]
[…]or related problems. I favor ZooMed calcium supplements, and always nutrient load feeder insects unless they are wild-caught; please see the article linked below for more on calcium supplementation and diet. Females fed a high calcium diet may nevertheless retain eggs if they are dehydrated. Senegal Chameleons rarely drink […]
[…]food items include earthworms, krill, freeze-dried river shrimp and crickets, waxworms and other insects. Breeding Wild females become sexually mature at age 5-10, males at age 3-5. Courting and breeding occurs in May and June, and females deposit 1-4 clutches of eggs (1-15 eggs in total) between May and […]
That Reptile Blog – Reptile, Amphibian and Exotic Pet Care and Information
